Berland's One Cup and Ball Routine
By Sam Berland

THE requirements for the One Cup Ball Routine are simple. A common drinking glass (fooled you already; it's not really a cup at all), two rubber balls about an inch in diameter, and a large ball that will fit easily into the glass. Form a piece of paper around the inverted glass and twist the paper at the top. All the balls are in the right coat pocket. You will need to learn to make a "pass." A "pass" wherein you apparently put a ball in the left hand but actually retain it in the right.

This is the simplest pass. The ball is held between the right first finger and the ball of the right thumb. The left hand is open, ready to receive the ball. The right hand turns to the left as though to place the ball therein, actually the ball is rolled by the thumb across' the middle fingers, and by a slight curve of the little finger, plus the aid of the third finger, the ball is retained at the base of the fingers. The left hand closes, apparently over the ball. The ball is easily held in the right hand with but little pressure. Practice until you can hold your right hand relaxed. without any suggestion of strain, as you hold the concealed ball.

To "load" the ball into the covered glass, hold the ball as explained at the base of the little finger. Now put your hand around the glass. thumb on one side. fingers on the other. The fingers and thumb rest on the table, hugging the glass. Lift the glass about three or four inches from the table. Allow it to tilt forward slightly. Move the little and third fingers, which hold the ball, slightly inward. If you lower the glass and release the ball, it will go under the glass without hesitation. You have learned the "pass" and the "load," and with all the balls in the right coat pocket, you are ready to perform. Perform on a draped table.

Borrow a glass, twist the paper around it as explained. Place the inverted glass on the table. The right hand reaches in the coat pocket, palms one of the balls under the little finger, and brings the second ball in view of the audience. It is placed on the table. The right hand, which has the concealed ball, takes the glass by the top and lifts it toward the audience to show that the glass is empty.

The left hand picks up the ball at the same time the right hand lifts the glass.

With attention on the left hand and the ball it holds, the right hand replaces the glass on the table, loading the ball under it. Casually show both hands and the ball that has been in view all the while.

Pretend to transfer the ball from the right hand to the left. Use the pass. Tit the bottom of the glass, holding the left hand flat as it touches the glass. Apparently the ball is driven through the paper and glass. Lift the glass with your right hand to show the duplicate ball under it. Pick up the ball with your left hand, replace the glass with your right, loading the other ball as you do. Repeat this passing through feat, but do not load the cup a third time. Retain the ball in your right hand.

Pick up the visible ball on the table. Remark that there is a wart on it. Pretend to pull the wart away, and bring the ball. which has been concealed in your right hand into view. You now have two balls. Put them on the table.

Apparently put one of the balls in your left hand, retain it in the right by making the pass. The right hand lifts the glass to show it empty, and, in replacing it, loads in the concealed ball. Hit the left hand on the glass, then show that the left hand-and the right hand are empty. The ball has apparently penetrated. Don't, however, lift the glass. Pick up the second ball, apparently put it in the left hand, and retain it in the right. Now lift the glass to show that the first ball did go through. In replacing the glass, load in the second ball, giving the glass a slight upward sweep so that the second ball will come to rest on the first ball. Open your left hand. The second ball has vanished! Lift the glass and show both balls under it.

Now openly put one ball under the glass. Say that you do not need the second ball. Put it in your pocket, but palm it out when you withdraw your hand. The left hand lifts the glass and transfers it to the right over the concealed ball. Then it lifts the visible ball to the table. The right hand replaces the glass with the other ball under it. The left hand openly passes its ball to the right hand. The right hand apparently puts it in the pocket. again retaining it.

Once more the above described move is repeated. Finally the right hand, in going to the pocket. drops the small ball and palms out the large ball. The left hand places the glass over the right hand as before, and the large ball is loaded when the right hand puts the glass on the table. Put the visible small ball in your right pocket. Ask someone to tap the covered glass to break the spell of the balls appearing.

The left hand is held against the back of the table, meanwhile, with the thumb on the table. the fingers extending downward. The right hand grasps the wrapped glass at the top. thumb and fingers around the twisted end. This is important. Now slowly lift the glass to reveal the large ball. The hand holding the glass moves back to the edge of the table nearest you. Using the appearance of the large ball as misdirection, the right hand lowers the covered glass just slightly below the edge of the table. The hold on the glass through the paper is released. The glass drops secretly out of the paper and onto the fingers of the waiting left hand.

Immediately the right hand moves over the table again. The paper still retains the shape of the glass. Now don't hurry. Congratulate the spectator on breaking the spell. Cover the large ball with the paper shape. Tell the spectator to hit the bottom of the glass again. Imagine his amazement when he does and finds that the glass has vanished. The left hand reaches under the table and brings out the glass.

Here you have an impromptu routine that has all the old features, including the vanishing glass, which was long discarded but is now beautifully revived as a logical and astonishing climax. This is a routine which will appear different to those who are tired of seeing the regular Cups and Balls.